Rail and brace end coupling

ABSTRACT

A rail end for securing the horizontal rail in a chain link fence to the vertical post. The rail end has a cup-shaped body with a shank projecting from a transverse wall of the body. The transverse wall has means to secure a diagonal brace or truss rod to it so that no special fitting is needed when such a diagonal brace is used.

United States Patent Brown 1 July4, 1972 [54] RAIL AND BRACE END COUPLING [72] Inventor: Thomas W. Brown, 4104 S. Creek Road E., Chattanooga, Tenn. 37406 [22] Filed: July 20, 1970 211 App1.No.: 56,256

[52] 11.8. C1 ..256/65, 256/35 [51] Int. Cl ..E04h 17/14 [58] Field of Search ..256/35, 36, 47, 21, 22, 65 70, 256/59 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,021,114 2/1962 OConnell ..256/47 X 567,557 9/1896 Whitehead ..256/35 451,461 5/1891 Darnell .256/35 453,148 5/1891 Kiler et al... .....256/35 1,018,894 2/1912 Fournie ..256/35 1,809,947 6/1931 Shepard ..256/35 2,445,545 7/1948 Verner.... .....256/35 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 57 ABSTRACT A rail end for securing the horizontal rail in a chain link fence to the vertical post. The rail end has a cup-shaped body with a shank projecting from a transverse wall of the body. The transverse wall has means to secure a diagonal brace or truss rod to it so that no special fitting is needed when such a diagonal brace is used.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUL 4 [972 INVENTOR THOMAS W. BROWN 8% i-KTTORIJE YS RAIL AND armor: END COUPLING This invention relates to fence structures and more particularly to a device for coupling the hoizontal rail member to the vertical post member in a chain link fence. Customarily, a band of metal having a hole in each end is bent around the vertical post so that the two holes are in alignment but spaced apart from each other. The horizontal rail member is connected to this band by means of a rail end cap which consists of a cup-like metal body of the same cross section as the rail and fitted over the rail. The cap has a tongue or shank portion projecting from it which is adapted to fit between the ends of the bent metal band so that a bolt through the band holes and a hole in the shank will hold the rail member in place. A top rail and a mid-rail are normally disposed between each pair of fence posts and suitable diagonal braces in the form of metal rods are used when necessary, particularly at comer posts and end posts.

When no diagonal brace is used, then a plain rail end having only a cup portion to receive the rail and a shank portion to engage the band is used. However, when it appears necessary to use a diagonal brace because of the need for additional strength, then special provisions must be made. Another band can be bent around the post and bolted in place with the end of the diagonal brace rod being secured to that bolt. Alternatively, the prior art uses a special type of rail end cap which has a second hole in the shank portion which is adapted to receive the bent end of the diagonal brace or truss rod. In

other prior'art devices a cored hole is left in the skirt portion of the cup, which is usually made of cast iron. Of course, care must be taken to position such a special end cap so that the cored hole faces in the right direction. Such special ends are considerably more expensive than the plain rail end so that, for reasons of economy, such special rail ends must be inserted only where previous planning has indicated that diagonal brace rods will be necessary.

Obviously, the use of two separate types of rail end caps leads to difficulties in stocking and ordering the correct components as well as having them available on a job at the time a fence is being erected. Such rail ends are usually cast in one piece making the formation of the rail end having the rod fitting especially complex and expensive.

Various types of existing rail ends and brace bands are disclosed in the following US. patents, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in order to minimize lengthy description of the prior art:

US. Patent 2,294,468 A. Pinson February 1960 US. Patent 3,022,044 S. Gugino February 1962 U.S. Patent 3,092,407 C. Blonder June 1963 US. Patent 3,157,388 E. A. Nelson November 1964 In view of the above-mentioned difficulties with prior art devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rail end fitting which can be used as either a rail end alone or as a brace end support without the necessity of stocking two separate items.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a strong stamped steel end fitting which can be used as either a rail end alone or a brace and rail end without concern as to proper vertical orientation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become understood from the following detailed specification of a preferred embodiment which is set forth by way of example only and from the following single sheet of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination rail end and brace end fitting of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the transverse end wall and the shank portion;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the combination rail end and brace end of this invention in place between a horizontal rail member and a supporting post with a diagonal brace rod secured into one of the apertures provided for it;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 showing a typical installation in a chain link fence.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1

shows the generally cup-shaped body 10 having cylindrically shaped side walls and a transverse end wall l4. Secured to this end wall by welding or other suitable fastening is a shank or tongue portion 12 having a hole 13 running through it. This shank is rectangular is cross section and of less width than the body 10.

A pair of openings 16 and 18 in the transverse end wall for insertion and securing of the end of a diagonal brace rod 20 are shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 presents a clearer showing that the openings 16 and 18 are equally spaced on each side of shank 12 so that the fitting can be used generally without regard as to which side should face upwardly.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a vertical post 24 having a band 26 bent around it. This band has a hole near each end and is bent so that the holes will be in substantial alignment but spaced from each other when in place on the post. The shank 12 is inserted between the spaced end of the brace 26 and a bolt 28 is inserted through the band holes and the hole 13 of the shank in order to secure the entire assembly together. A portion of a horizontal rail member 22 is shown inserted inside the cup-shaped portion 10 of the combination rail end and brace end device of this invention. This rail may be secured in the cup by any conventional means such as a set screw or a pin or bolt through the cup portion and rail.

1f the particular location of the post 24 makes it desirable to obtain additional support by means of a diagonal brace 20, the end of that brace is first bent into a U-shape and then inserted into one of the openings 16 or 18 in a manner so that it will come in proper alignment with the place on the adjacent post where it will be secured. A turn buckle (not shown) near the bottom of the adjacent post is used on the diagonal brace so that it can be adjusted in order to hole the post 24 rigidly in a vertical position. Since it is always desirable to keep the diagonal brace or truss member 20 as close to the chain link wire mesh as possible, the opening 16 or 18 which is closest to the inside of the fence can be selected for insertion of the diagonal brace 20.

In order to present the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out this. invention, the above description has been given by way of example only but it should be understood that the invention is not limited by what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination rail and brace end for joining a rail to a post comprising a substantially cup-shaped body having an open end to receive said rail and a transverse end wall; a shank, rectangular in cross section, projecting from said end wall; at least one opening in said end wall adjacent one of the long sides of said rectangular shank adapted to receive the end of a brace rod.

2. The device of claim 1 including two openings in said wall, one on each side of said rectangular shank. 

1. A combination rail and brace end for joining a rail to a post comprising a substantially cup-shaped body having an open end to receive said rail and a transverse end wall; a shank, rectangular in cross section, projecting from said end wall; at least one opening in said end wall adjacent one of the long sides of said rectangular shank adapted to receive The end of a brace rod.
 2. The device of claim 1 including two openings in said wall, one on each side of said rectangular shank. 